Basil Read readies for H1 swing to profit

Construction major Basil Read expects earnings a share for the six months ended June 30 to increase by between 111% and 131% on that of the first half of the prior year, swinging from a 145.75c loss a share to earnings of between 16c and 45c apiece. The company advised shareholders on Monday that headline earnings a share for the period were also expected to improve to between 21c and 50c apiece, an improvement of  114% to 134% on the 145.74c headline loss a share reported in the corresponding period in the prior year.